QUESTION: Sir, can you tell me specifically what the inspectors
have or haven't been able to do, what they've uncovered or what they
haven't uncovered that leads you to believe the signs are not
encouraging that they're doing their job?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes. Well, I can tell you this. This isn't about
inspectors. The issue is whether Saddam Hussein will disarm. Will he
disarm in the name of peace. And we expect him to fully comply. And one
of my concerns is that in the past he has shot at our airplanes --
anybody who shoots at U.S. airplanes, or British airplanes, is not
somebody who looks like he's interested in complying with disarmament.

He wrote letters, stinging rebukes to what the U.N. did. He was
very critical of the U.S. and Britain. That doesn't appear to be
somebody who was that anxious to comply.

But we've just started the process. And one of the things that I
want to continue to remind Americans, this is not a game that we're
playing of hide and seek. This is our attempt to work with the world
community to create peace. And the best way for peace is for Mr. Saddam
Hussein to disarm. It's up to him to make his decision.

Yes.

QUESTION: Kofi Annan said Iraq is cooperating. Is there some
daylight between you and --

THE PRESIDENT: We've been at this -- what -- five days. This is
after 11 years of deceit and defiance. And the issue, again, is not
hide and seek; the issue is whether or not Saddam Hussein will disarm.
And soon he'll be making a declaration of whether he has any weapons.
For years he said he didn't have any weapons. And now we'll see whether
or not he does. And if he does, we expect them to be completed
destroyed and a full accounting.

And I remind our citizens that the U.N. Security Council voted
overwhelmingly, 15 to nothing, for this approach we've taken. Our NATO
allies have joined us, and we all expect Saddam Hussein to disarm.

Stretch.

QUESTION: To follow on what Steve just asked you, do you disagree
with the Secretary General's relatively optimistic take on things?

THE PRESIDENT: What I agree with is that we've been doing this for
five days, after 11 years of deception and deceit. The process is just
beginning. And the world will determine soon whether or not Saddam
Hussein is going to do what we've asked, which is, in the name of
peace, fully disarm.

This is not a game anymore of, well, I'll say one thing and do
another. We expect him to disarm. And now it's up to him to do so. And
time will tell whether or not he is willing to do so.